In another show of its commitment to promoting access to cultural and historical learning, Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) has launched the Sharjah Archaeology Museum website, designed to take the users on an historical tour through four very distinct periods of Sharjah’s rich archaeological past.

The new website www.archaeologymuseum.ae is based on a new content management system, built to provide extensive information of the museum’s collection and activities as well as publish the latest updates on excavation finds in both Arabic and English, faster and more efficiently.

Manal Ataya, Director General, SMD said: "The launch of the new website is a turning point in the museum's 13 year history. It also coincides with the revamp of all its galleries to provide virtual access to our museum’s extensive collection to enhance learning opportunities for all”.

"SMD has made the website as user-friendly as possible, encouraging a younger demographic generation of first time traffic towards the site. Using the internet is an excellent way to significantly increase accessibility to information and share more experiences with people locally and internationally. Visitors to the website can enjoy virtual tours into the museum halls, and receive updates on the museum calendar of activities,” she added.

Nasir Bin Hashim, Curator of Sharjah Archaeology Museum, said: "The website includes valuable information about the Museum's collection, the primary result of the ongoing efforts of Directorate of Antiquities in Sharjah and the foreign and local archaeological missions that it works with. The museum’s collection includes stone and shell necklaces, Roman aureus of Augustus, a number of bronze spearheads that were buried with the warriors in large stone-built collective tombs and their metal was mined and smelted in the mountains of the Arabian Peninsula.”

"The website highlights key objects in the collection excavated over 25 years in the emirate of Sharjah. These include precious figurines, pieces of jewellery, Inscriptions, and other exquisitely crafted items including the famous find of the golden bridle of Mleiha,” added Bin Hashim.

Visitors to Sharjah Archaeology Museum will learn more about various countries that the ancient people of Sharjah’s early settlements communicated with through the artefacts discovered and imported from different countries such as Yemen, Iran and Greece.

The Sharjah Archaeology Museum is the permanent archive for all archaeological material recovered by the Directorate of Antiquities in the Emirate of Sharjah. The mission of the museum is to preserve, interpret, and exhibit its collections and to disseminate knowledge about them in a manner that encourages appreciation, learning, and enjoyment of Sharjah’s archaeological heritage.

The Sharjah Museums Department, established in 2006 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, aims to promote the emirate’s rich legacy of arts, heritage and culture. For more information on Sharjah Museums Department, please visit the website www.sharjahmuseums.ae.